except the Americans (who treat them like a disposable landing strip today...)

Now that's not fair.  We use them for moral cover, too.

And, anyway, it's not like we treat them as a disposable landing strip for the same reason anymore.  It's just that the President knows the PM is Dead Man Walking, so we reckon we might as well cosy up to Merkel and Sarko.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.